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Rand Paul 'interested' in 2016 presidential race

Like father, like son: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says he's interested in running for president in 2016. The Republican senator, a Tea Party favorite, didn't shy away when ABC's Jonathan Karl asked about his

Rand Paul 'interested' in 2016 presidential race

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)

Like father, like son: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says he's interested in running for president in 2016.

The Republican senator, a Tea Party favorite, didn't shy away when ABC's Jonathan Karl asked about his White House aspirations.

"I'm not going to deny that I'm interested," Paul said in the interview.

Paul is a son of Texas Rep. Ron Paul, whose three presidential bids have earned him a devoted following for his small-government philosophy. The Kentucky senator was the first candidate in the 2010 election cycle to turn Tea Party support into victory at the ballot box.

In the ABC News interview, the younger Paul said there is a need for the Republican Party to go in a "different direction" to reach out to Hispanics and younger voters. Paul's father is retiring from Congress in January when his 11th full term ends.